The Patrick J. Ahern House
403 Laurel Street
Texarkana, Arkansas
A National Register Property operated by the
P.J. Ahern House History
The Ahern house was designed in the Classical Revival style by the Burdsal Company based on a floor plan designed by Mr. and Mrs. Ahern. The first floor consists of a central hall, music room, parlor, library, dining room, kitchen, butler's pantry and powder room. The second floor consists of four bed rooms, two baths, a nurse's room and a sleeping porch. The latter was added in 1918. All six children slept on the porch during the summer.
The original gas and electric combination chandeliers still hang in their original locations. Gas and electric sconces can be found in the library and parlor. The wood work was never painted and, once a year, Mrs. Ahern personally oversaw the cleaning of all woodwork. There are six unique gas fireplaces in the house, four on the first floor and two upstairs. Each has a unique mantle design with Italian tile in various colors.
In 2005, the Texarkana Museums System assisted the Ahern family in placing the Ahern house on the National Register of Historic Places. Through the efforts of Eleanor Horrigan, the youngest daugter of P.J. and Mary O. Ahern,, the house was preserved and plan were made to use the home as a living history museum . In July 2010, this dream became a reality and the TExarkana Museums System acquried the historic property. TMS is excited to finally have a property on the Arkansas side.
At this time, the property is not open to the public. Restoration and repairs are underway and TMS expects to begin offering tours in a year.
For more information , please contact us:
903-793-4831
P.O. Box 2343
Texarkana, Texas 75504
Website: www.texarkanamuseums.org
Photographs taken
circa 1930.
Patrick J. Ahern
and
Mary O. (Lansdale) Ahern
Ahern Family
Patrick J. Ahern was born in County Waterford, Ireland in 1861. As a young man he immigrated to England where he began his education in as a merchant. Having learned the basics of running a business, he then decided to move to the U.S. In 1882, young Ahern arrived in Texarkana, Arkansas and joined his old school chum, Roger ODwyer in the retail dry goods business. Within two years, he was a full partner in the newly renamed O'Dwyer and Ahern Dry Goods store. The O'Dwyer and Ahern building still stands in the 100 block of East Broad Street (the old Regency Jewelers building).
After establishing himself in the business community, Mr. Ahern's thoughts turned to marriage and family. In 1904, he married Mary Olive Lansdale of Washington, D.C. The young couple immediately began plans for a modern home in the heart of the Quality Hill neighborhood. Miss Lansdale's elder sister, Mrs. J.P. Kline, was already living in Texarkana and it was decided that the lot originally intended for the Ahern home would be divided into two sections. The corner section would be used for the Ahern home and the inner section was set aside for the Kline home. At one time, there were three more homes continuing beyond the Kline home.
The Aherns had six children: Joe, Mary, Ann, Catherine, John and Eleanor. All but the eldest were born in the 403 Laurel house. Eleanor Ahern-Horrigan was responsible for giving the house to the Texarkana Museums System. The Aherns were founding members of St. Edward's Church and hosted the Sisters of Charity while their convent was being built in 1918.
Photo Gallery
Phone: 903-793-4831
Fax: 903-793-7108
Mail: P.O. Box 2343
Web: texarkanamuseums.org
Museum of Regional History
219 State Line Ave.
Ace of Clubs House
420 Pine Street
Discovery Place
215 Pine Street
Ahern House
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403 Laurel Street, Texarkana, Arkansas
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